NASA's draft request for proposals for commercial space stations contains over 3,000 requirements, a figure that stunned industry participants who expected only hundreds. The 246-page document imposes controls such as requiring NASA's chief information officer to approve every software purchase a company makes, embedding cost-plus oversight into a firm fixed-price structure.

Former NASA commercial spaceflight chief Phil McAlister said the requirements read like a cost-plus contract stuffed into a fixed-price bag, but without NASA willing to pay for that level of oversight. Funding remains undefined — potentially $1.5 billion over five years split among an unknown number of winners. If two companies are selected, the pool may suffice; three or more could stretch it dangerously thin.

The draft RFP is now open for industry feedback, with a final version expected in September and contract awards possible next spring. McAlister noted the budget ambiguity and absence of a long-term commitment signal NASA is not fully committed to the program, leaving companies to calculate whether bidding makes financial sense.